Human Above All: How AI Gave Us Back Our Humanity
Hello, and welcome to a world where technology simplified, but humanity thrived.
It’s been about two years since AI entered our lives, simplifying tasks, raising eyebrows, and yes, threatening some jobs. Now that the dust has settled, we can take a step back and ask: what have we learned? Where do we stand? And more importantly, what does it mean for us as humans?
AI, with its incredible efficiency, has almost become second nature to us. Many of us can hardly remember a time when we didn’t have these tools at our fingertips. But as it automated not just repetitive tasks but also creative processes, it redefined workflows and reshaped many roles. Yet, it also highlighted something powerful: the human roles that cannot be replaced by AI – those requiring presence, empathy, communication, and leadership.
Picasso once said, “Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.” It’s funny how I learned that in my first year of graphic design school, as I struggled with perspective drawings. Little did I know that quote would make so much more sense to me now. AI learned the rules, but it’s because we experts have mastered our craft that we can now dedicate ourselves to innovation and creativity.
Sure, AI can give you data, create templates, and spit out strategies in no time. But can it guide your team, train them, and adjust strategies in real time? Studies show that people learn more effectively through interaction and engagement rather than just passively reading.
Can AI help your team truly absorb and apply the strategy by engaging them, answering their questions, and inspiring them to act? Mastering a craft is a human endeavor, and AI can’t replicate the experience and intuition that come from years of developing skills.
From threat to ally: my personal journey
Let me be honest, at first, I felt the pressure too. I had a client ask, “why pay for a strategy that AI can deliver?”. That felt like a stab, and I didn’t have the perfect answer at the time.
But then I started using AI myself, and it felt almost taboo to admit it to my peers. AI seemed like the enemy threatening our jobs. Even now, some may feel wary or resentful.
I sent a message to my best friend the other day, and she immediately said it sounded like ChatGPT – probably because she was surprised I’d be that structured and formal with her 🙂 – I had to remind her that AI was built and prompted based on messages from people like her and me.
Then, slowly but surely, people started commenting and noticing when captions, posts, and other writings were AI-generated versus when there was a human either writing them or guiding the machine. And that’s when clients and brands came to me, much more for guidance, consultancy, and training. In an age where AI can help you lock in grammatically correct sentences and identify “trending” keywords, brands have opened the doors to competition not just within their industry, but across industries.
You see, AI has standardized much of what we see in marketing and content creation. Many brands now use the same keywords and phrases because algorithms demand it, making everything blend together in one giant sea of sameness. When your dentist and the sweets shop next door are both using the same trending songs and keywords, social media’s algorithm pits them against each other.
Your brand deserves better. It deserves a distinct voice, a narrative that cuts through the noise, and a strategy that doesn’t just follow trends but creates them. That’s where human thinking, creativity, and intuition come in. It’s the role that AI cannot fill.
The Human-First Collective
Those of us who are using AI effectively – whether we’re strategists, writers, or designers – have already mastered our craft. We know how to lead teams and deliver work that goes beyond the mechanical. That’s why Coana’s services are rooted in a “human-first” philosophy. Whether it’s guiding your team, brainstorming new ideas, or shaping your brand’s identity, no technology can replace the depth of connection and insight that comes from human expertise.
AI has liberated us from mundane tasks, giving us more time for personal growth, creativity, and balance.
This is the true essence and soul of Coana – our human-first approach, and what we believe the future to be: humans at the forefront, with technology in the background, empowering us to do more of what we love, connect with clients and each other, and lead with empathy, communication, and purpose – “couwana” for those who speak Arabic 😉
